Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP CON Y05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, bright yellow ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the second week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP CON Y05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP CON Y05’ is a product of an induced mutation of the parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘PPP CON OR05’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,094) using gamma ray treatment at a dose of 20 Gy. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in September 2003 in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON Y05’ by terminal cuttings and tissue culture was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP CON Y05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PPP CON Y05.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PPP CON Y05’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large bright yellow inflorescences;     -   2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 49 days of short day length;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the second         week of September.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON Y05’ are similar to plants to the parent variety, ‘PPP CON OR05,’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CON Y05’ are smaller in height than the parent. Also, ‘PPP CON Y05’ have a larger inflorescence diameter. Finally, the ray florets of ‘PPP CON Y05’ are bright yellow compared to the orange ray florets of the parent.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI ONE AVI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,455), ‘PPP CON Y05’ has a much wider plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP CON Y05’ has lighter, greener foliage. Further, the new variety ‘PPP CON Y05’ has a longer inflorescence longevity and the ray florets are a much brighter, truer yellow than the yellow-orange ray florets of the comparable variety ‘GEDI ONE AVI.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘PPP CON Y05’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘PPP CON Y05’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of the May through September. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar ‘PPP CON     Y05.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 25 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 21 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 30. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 125 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137C. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Green 138C. Venation color under side: Near Green 138C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.01 cm.         -   Petiole texture.—Lightly pubescent.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately second week in             September.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             19.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 32             days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth on both the upper and lower surfaces.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—240.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Yellow 9A. Upper             surface at maturity: Near Yellow 9A. Upper surface at             fading: Near Yellow 9B. Under surface at first opening: Near             Yellow 9B. Under surface at maturity: Near Yellow 9C. Under             surface at fading: Near Yellow 9D. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 5.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow 9B. At maturity: Near             Yellow 9A. At fading: Near Yellow-Orange 15B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.9 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 7.9 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Green 141D. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 25.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow 8C.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 9A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PP CON Y05’ as herein illustrated and described. 